as in backwards
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft
if you turn around and look astern, you'll see dolphins following the boat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astern
Adverb
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Also of note is the Dusk Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with interesting spirits.—
David Swanson,
Travel + Leisure,
27 May 2024 -
Open exterior decks forward and aft allow for a steady sea breeze, as the owner—who was last aboard his yacht in the summer of 2021—used to regularly enjoy.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
Inside the car, the rear bench has been ripped out so that reclining sport-style seats with Pepita inserts could be installed.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
17 Oct. 2025
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And unlike traditional luxury coupes, the One of One has no rear window and rides high on large wheels, giving it a muscular, but still modern appearance.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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After the shrieks stop, the clip shows the substantial crack Denny left behind.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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The competition for powered land is being led more by tech companies and energy producers than real estate developers, but Hines clearly doesn't want to be left behind.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Smith-Schuster tumbled backward to the ground, jumped up and went after Branch.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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Worse, the organization’s evaluation and development seemed to take a step backward.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Astern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astern. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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